Marginal Seats Could Be Determined By Roads: Newspoll Survey

Author: NRMA MediaDate: 06 July 2010

A Newspoll survey commissioned by NRMA Motoring & Services has found that the roads policies of the major parties are an important issue for 84 per cent of voters in Federal marginal seats across NSW.

The survey of 3,609 voters in 12 marginal seats across NSW found that more voters rated roads as being an important election issue than education, climate change and taxation.

Around 300 voters were polled in each of Bennelong, Calare, North Sydney, Wentworth, Paterson, Hughes, Gilmore, Page, Eden-Monaro, Macarthur, Macquarie and Robertson.

The polling has been released on the same day that the NRMA launched its Federal Election campaign A Road Map for the Next Australian Government. The campaign will include candidate forums in marginal seats, a candidate questionnaire and issues report.

Petrol prices (82 per cent) and traffic congestion (66 per cent) also rated highly among voters as important voting issues. Almost two-thirds of voters (59 per cent) believe the Government has not invested enough in roads.

NRMA President Wendy Machin said with half (49 per cent) of those surveyed undecided about how they would vote on 21 August, these 12 marginal seats across NSW were still up for grabs.

"Local candidates in these 12 marginal seats and the headquarters of the major political parties would be well served to take note of what voters are telling them," Ms Machin said.

"Our polling has found universal support, both in Sydney and regional NSW, for policies that will improve the lives of Australian motorists and deliver safer and less congested roads."

"Voters in metropolitan marginal seats in particular flagged the need to tackle traffic congestion as a major vote winning issue. Both parties need to have a solution to take to voters."

The Newspoll/NRMA survey also found 82 per cent of voters want the Government to end Australia's dependence on imported oil and secure the nation's transport energy future with bio-fuels and other renewable sources like electricity and hydrogen.

There was overwhelming voter support (78 per cent) for the Government to work with the private sector to support the development of these industries.

"Governments across the United States, Asia, the European Union and South America have woken up to the fact that they can no longer rely on fossil fuels to keep their economies moving - yet here in Australia we continue to drag our heels," Ms Machin said.

"The next Australian Government must take action on this important issue. The longer both sides of politics procrastinate and pass-the-buck the longer Australian families will be exposed to fluctuating world oil prices and unclean, unsafe fuels imported from some of the most volatile parts of the world."

In the coming weeks the NRMA will call on Labor and the Coalition parties to answer the NRMA Election Issues Questionnaire.

The questionnaire will ask each party to formally state its position on:

• Revenue from fuel excise spent on roads
• Sydney's missing motorways
• Regional Highways in NSW and the ACT
• An alternative fuels plan for Australia
• Meeting the mobility needs of an ageing population
• Investment in a National Safe Road Infrastructure Program
• Mandatory Vehicle Safety features
• Heavy vehicle safety
• Minimum safety standards for Government fleets
• Right to Repair legislation

NRMA Motoring & Services, July 2010.